Here’s the GW22 Barclays fantasy premier league “ones to watch”. This is a menu of fantasy premier league players to pick from for your team with factors stating why. (values as at Thursday 10/1 AM)
With the Wildcard available and I’m guess with 2 consecutive double game weeks ahead that most people are using it so I’ve concentrated on Buys .
At the bottom is a key if you want a bit more detail on the factors listed in the decsion
GOALKEEPER
Hart – £6.9m – quality HOLD
As per each week, the best defence and only Kompany is secure at a similar price.
Begovic £5.8m form HOLD
Fixtures are ok and better home than away but with the right rotation (Bunn works nicely) he’s still a good option. Getting a bit expensive (more than De Gea and Szczesny) so I’m not sure I would be buying given the alternatives in defence especially Cameron at £4.9m. Stoke continue to show their defensive strength and I now rate them the one of the better defences especially at home
Bunn £4.1m Budget BUY
One of the better value defences and ok at home so should be rotated. Ruddy is out until mid Feb and he’s cheap. A good buy
Szczesny £5.3m fixtures DGW23 BUY
Good fixtures good defence despite what you’re told.
Turnbull £4.3m short term DGW22 BUY
Just for the double gameweek. Should play both games with Cech injured
Budget (chose those that rotate home and away as home games get more clean sheets if youre going for 2 budget keepers)
Federici – £4.3m
Bunn £4.1m
DEFENCE
Sagna £5.1m fixtures DGW23 BUY
Surprisingly returned last week. The Arsenal defence is underrated and Sagna also brings good attacking potential at a really reasonable price. Reasonable fixtures as well. Gibbs at the slightly higher price is also an option.
Zabaleta £5.9m value BUY
With Maicon and Richards injured Zabaleta looks to have the RB position sewn up. Definitely the best defence in the league and apart from the certainty of Kompany at £6.9m this is the best option. Has experienced a strong upturn in attacking returns this year as well
Cameron £4.9m value BUY
The cheapest buy in a great defensive team especially at home. Doesn’t give you the bonus or attacking potential of the other players but great value. Reasonable fixtures fixtures now but good enough at home and cheap enough to warrant rotation
Wilson £4.0m value BUY(injured)
For anyone wanting to take a gamble this is a great way of getting exposure to the best defence outside the elite at a cut rate price. According to Pulis should be back in a couple of weeks a few days ago so should be back for GW23/24
Wisdom £4.3m value short term BUY
With Enrique injured for 6 weeks this is a great short term buy even with the poor fixtures. Only risk is Downing to LB with Sturridge joining but I cant see that myself. Worth the gamble.
David Luiz £6.7m DGW22 BUY
The best buy among the defence with him playing in midfield and Mikel going to ACON. Cahill or Azpili will be sacrificed if Terry comes back so Cole is the only other option at the moment
Budget
Clyne £4.0m (injury doubt)
Shaw £4.0m
Davies £4.2m budget
Turner – £4.1m
R Martin – £4.1m
Demel – £4.0m
O’Brien injury doubt £4.5m
Gunter £3.9m
MIDFIELD
Mata £9.9m quality DGW22 BUY
Probably the obvious captain pick for the Chelsea DGW 22 although I can honestly not name 1 Chelsea player who’s guaranteed 2 games when you consider the Capital One semis are thrown in there as well. 7th in the last 6 shooting stats despite very difficult fixtures and creeping in to the overall season shooting stats. With Bale the only one who’s also in the season chance creating top 10. I’ve criticised him before but stats are stats and I’m converted now
Bale £9.8m Quality BUY
4th in the overall shooting stats despite a low number of fixtures due to injury and suspension. The best all round midfielder in my mind and also with Mata the only one also in the season chances created top 10 table. fixtures are only ok though not that it seems to matter for him.
Walcott £9.0m fixtures DGW23 BUY
Playing up front as a midfielder, David Villa is out of the picture and Arsenal have a double game week in GW23. What more do you need to know
Michu £8.2m form value BUY
2nd in the overall shooting stats and top of the last 6. Playing as a striker and as well as shooting alot seems to be a clinical finisher
Fellaini £7.4m fixtures BUY
Marked his comeback with an assist but quiet on the stat front despite playing against an awful Newcastle defence and in his favoured position supporting Jelavic. He is top of the shooting stats for the season despite playing far less games than anyone but isn’t as lethal as Michu. With Everton having some of the best fixtures of everyone he’s worth purchasing and keeping the faith for those days when he’s unplayable.
Nolan £6.5m fixtures DGW23 BUY
Its now 1 return in 9 games but still 3rd overall shooting stats although has slipped out of the last 6. Last couple of games have been disappointing but Carroll will be back soon and with the West ham double game week in GW23 he’s worth the gamble in my mind
Sessegnon fixtures £7.2m
I think there are better options at the moment but he is 5th in the last 6 shooting stats and has fixtures on his side. Another playing in that advanced midfield position. Will give you a difference against your league opponents
Puncheon value £4.9m BUY
A couple of quiet performances have seen him drop out of the last 6 shooting stats although still in the overall season stats. Still the best cheap midfielder by my reckoning and has a double game week in GW22 so worth holding or buying if you haven’t already
Budget
Schneiderlin – £4.5m Saints
McCarthy – £4.8m
Maloney – £4.8m
Guthrie £4.1m
FORWARDS
RVP – £14.0m – QUALITY BUY
With Rooney still out RVP looks like he should be locked in to everyones team. Fixtures aren’t as strong but seems to produce no matter what the fixtures
Ba – £8.6m form DGW22 BUY
Didn’t start last night and showed far more than Fernando Torres in the 10 minutes he came on. This is a positive sign but he still could be rotated virtually every game. The dream scenario is that Torres plays the domestic cups and the Europa league. Is total quality though if you want to take a punt on fixtures.
Suarez – £10.4m Quality HOLD
Top of both the last 6 and the overall shooting stats plus chances created albeit on the back of kinder fixtures. Now enters a period when fixtures are trickier so it will be interesting to see how he fares. I’m backing him to continue.
Tevez value £8.9m
Good value considering that Aguero is out and he should play virtually every game. Hasnt returned in last 3 starts but stats indicate returns should come. Fixtures are tailing off but City look like they can score again
Dzeko value £7.4m
Significantly cheaper than Tevez but more prone to rotation with Ballotelli than Tevez. With Aguero injured for some time though will get his share of games. Hasn’t had enough games to appear anywhere on the shooting stats but returns have been self evident
Lambert DGW23 £6.3m
For the Saints double game week and because they are away to Villa in game 1. Not a longer term option due to fixtures and lack of representation in the shooting stats
Jelavic fixtues £8.1m
Fellaini would probably be my Everon coverage of choice as he’s also cheaper but Everton have the fixtures for fantasy premier league managers to prosper with. In the overall shooting stats but hasn’t been producing lately
Budget – for those wanting to squeeze in to the midfield
Jones – £5.0m
Pogrebnyak – £4.3m
KEY
quality – an elite player for his position
value – a player at a value that is less than the returns I expect
fixtures – a player facing good fixtures over the next 6 games
budget – filler at the minimum price the position allows. Should play
sleeping giant – a player with past form who may have had a quiet season last year but has the potential for far greater returns than his value
YC – card magnet
DGW – has 2 games in the specified game week
pre-season – has pre-season form
pens – should take penalties
short term – will only play for a few games
Form – current form
hope that stimulates some thought for your fantasy premier league team.